By Zhang Jianshu

Defense and foreign ministers from the United States and Japan held a meeting in Tokyo on March 16. The “list of meeting achievements” published by Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs later included plenty of unfriendly content targeted at China.

In response to a question about the joint press statement released after the meeting of US-Japan Security Consultative Committee, known as "2+2" talks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said at the regular press conference on March 17 that “the US-Japan joint statement maliciously attacks China’s foreign policy, flagrantly interferes in China’s domestic affairs, and attempts to harm China’s interests.” He continued, “Japan, driven by the selfish aim to check China’s revitalization, willingly stoops to acting as a strategic vassal of the United States, going so far as to break faith, harm relations with China, invite the wolf into the house and betray the collective interests of the whole region. Such despicable behavior is deeply unpopular.”

Both before and after the “2+2” meeting, Japanese media have been proudly clamoring about Tokyo and Washington’s singling out of China, US-China confrontation, and how Biden administration values Tokyo –an unchecked eagerness to elevate Japan’s standing with America’s weight. But many people have observed that Tokyo and Washington each have an ax to grind.

First of all, the whole world is watching closely the China-US meeting to be held in Alaska. No matter what tricks the US plays before that, it will have to come to the negotiating table with China. Japan is actually anxious that the two major powers may reach an agreement behind its back.

Second, Tokyo is having its plate full preparing for the Olympic Games, but the COVID-19 epidemic in the capital city and its surrounding areas is far from being kept well under control. Japan insists on using only American and European vaccines but is troubled by insufficient supply at present. Will the American guests help it get more vaccines?

Third, according to Japanese media’s coverage of the “2+2” meeting, Blinken and Austin delivered Washington’s messages without using strong or provocative remarks targeting China. Rather, it was the Japanese side that was complaining a lot to the “big brother”. There are guesses that Japan is saying what the US wants it to as that best meets American interests and could also portray Japan as the party being forced, thus glossing over the fact that Japan is doing exactly what it wants for its own interests.

Many people in Japan have different interpretation of the meeting from the Japanese Foreign Ministry. For example, Shinsuke Sugiyama, a senior official at the ministry and former ambassador to the US, said during a TV program on March 15 that while Japan’s diplomacy is pivoted on its alliance with the US, the Japan-China relation is also one of the most important foreign relations for it, adding that “it’s really hard for Japan to do everything the US asks”.

Katsutoshi Kawano, former Chief of Staff of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, also said on a program on March 16 that while US President Biden vowed to act with the allies, it doesn’t mean Japan will take all the responsibilities. He expected Washington to strongly ask Japan to play a bigger role in security.

In Japan’s opinion, American troops are more and more like its “bodyguards” or “mercenaries”, while the “China threat theory” is the best excuse for Uncle Sam to demand more from Japan and for Japan to tax more from its people.

In fact, there are many voices within Japan asking for a dissolution of the Japan-US alliance. The many problems and divergences between the two countries won’t be resolved by one or two “2+2” meetings. History and reality have both shown that the persistence of Tokyo and Washington, the former in particular, to form a small clique targeting a third party will harm others while doing themselves no good. It will eventually become a self-inflicted fetter on themselves.

Editor’s note: This article is originally published on zqb.cyol.com, and is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information, ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.